Wanderers coach has to get results

Wanderers' coach Tony Popovic watches his team take to the field against the Roar during the round 1 A-League match between the Western Sydney Wanderers and the Brisbane Roar at Pirtek Stadium in Sydney on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. (AAP Image/Paul Miller) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLYPAUL MILLER

We might have only had one round in the 2015-16 A-League season, but I reckon the pressure is already on Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic.

Some people might say that's a big call after only one game, and one defeat, but I am not just basing my opinion on this campaign, I am looking back to last season when the Wanderers ended up second bottom.

Thursday night's defeat at the hands of Brisbane Roar meant that the Wanderers still have not won an opening-round match in the A-League since the club came into existence in April 2012.

That in itself is a problem, but the team's woes clearly run deeper than that.

The Wanderers have now lost 18 of their past 20 games in all competitions.

That is not a good record.

In fact, it's so poor that if Popovic had been at any other club he would probably be looking for another job.

Let's not forget the Wanderers, apart from winning the Asian Champions League, had a terrible campaign last time round.

Popovic was probably given a free ride last year because of the fact he won the ACL.

But that backstop has gone now, and the Wanderers owners, led by chairman Paul Lederer, might well be starting to think of looking elsewhere for a new man.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 08: Scott Neville of the Wanderers tackles Jamie Maclaren of the Roar during the round one A-League match between the Western Sydney Wanderers and the Brisbane Roar at Pirtek Stadium on October 8, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)Mark Nolan

I think Popovic has a bit of grace as he brought in 10 new players and he will say that they need time to gel.

But 17 players also left the club at the end of last season and a few of those did so because Popovic showed them the door.

There is no doubt that Popovic is a decent coach. He proved that in his first two years at Western Sydney when he took the side to consecutive A-League grand finals and a Premier's Plate.

However, football is a results-driven industry and if they don't start coming soon questions from the club hierarchy will start to be asked.

Popovic, who signed a new three-year deal in June, has brought in some quality players in the likes of Dario Vidosic, Mitch Nichols and Spanish players Andreu, Dimas and Alberto.

But he also lost players such as Matt Spiranovic and judging by Thursday night's defeat, he is already missing the Socceroos defender's presence.

Not for one minute do I want Popovic to get the push. In fact, I think he deserves a chance to turn things around.

The owners, however, might not feel the same.

Just how much time he is given is a question only the Western Sydney big chiefs can answer.